Ranked by evidence

The best sunscreens, by efficacy grade

Not "editor's picks" — a ranking by what the formula can actually do. Every sunscreen below is graded on its active, the dose, and the evidence, with the receipts one tap away. Top grade in this category right now: A.

A #1 · Mad Hippie Daily protective serum.
— 87/100 B #2 · Dr.Melaxin Dr.Melaxin Hydro Ceramic Serum Infused Essence Sun Cream SPF50+ PA++++
— 77/100 B #3 · Skinceuticals SkinCeuticals Advanced Brightening UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 50
— 77/100 B #4 · Hyphen sunscreen
— 73/100 B #5 · Edgewell Sheer Touch Oil-free Sunscreen Lotion 30 SPF
— 73/100 B #6 · Bionike Defence sun baby & kid 50+
— 73/100 C #7 · NIVEA NIVEA SUN Protect & Moisture Sun Spray SPF 50+
— 69/100 C #8 · OMBIA SUN Sun Spray Classic
— 69/100 C #9 · Rimmel BB cream radiance 9 en 1 SPF 25 - 002 medium
— 69/100 C #10 · Rimmel BB cream radiance 9 en 1 SPF 25 - 00? très claire
— 69/100 C #11 · Rimmel BB cream radiance 9 en 1 SPF 20 - 001 claire
— 69/100 C #12 · Bioderma Photoderm Max SPF 50+ - Aquafluide
— 69/100 C #13 · EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
$43 67/100 C #14 · Supergoop! mineral matte screen
— 67/100 C #15 · Badger Daily Mineral Sunscreen with Zinc Oxide, SPF 30
— 67/100 C #16 · NIVEA NIVEA SUN Sensitive Immediate Protect Spray SPF 50+
— 65/100 C #17 · Avène Mat perfect FPS 50+ Fluido con color
— 65/100 C #18 · Vichy Vichy Idéal soleil SPF30
— 65/100 C #19 · Avène Très Haute Protection Spray 50+ SPF
— 65/100 C #20 · sasi AcneSol SPF50+ comfort sunscreen
— 65/100 C #21 · Beiersdorf Protect & Sensitive 50
— 65/100 C #22 · Lirene Dermoprogram Sun protection emulsion
— 65/100 C #23 · Ziaja sun lotion for children
— 65/100 C #24 · Reginald Reginald Helios
— 65/100 C #25 · Little Urchin Natural Clear Zinc Sunscreen SPF 50
— 63/100

How this ranking is built

Each sunscreen is scored on its disclosed actives versus published effective-concentration thresholds, the formulation, and any product-specific study — the same open rubric we grade everything on. You can't pay to move a spot. Most products in this category don't disclose enough to grade at all; those are excluded here.

Get "Efficacy Grade of the Week"

We deconstruct one viral product a week — the active, the dose, the receipts. Free, and you can't pay us to inflate a grade.